Photo: Steve Gittings/ONMS

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary advisory council established a Marine Debris Working Group to

help coordinate underwater cleanups

Photo: NOAA Marine Debris Removal Program

Marine Debris Working Group MembersAdvisory Council Leads:Elena Rodriguez - Diving, Upper Keys Lisa Mongelia - Tourism, Upper Keys Alternate

Advisory Council Representatives:Bob Smith - Diving, Lower Keys AlternateJoe Weatherby - Toursim, Lower Keys AlternateMimi Stafford - Citizen at Large, Lower KeysShelly Krueger - Research and Monitoring Alternate

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Staff Lead:Marlies Tumolo

Government Agencies:Ann Lazar - Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionCharles Grisafi - NOAA Marine Debris ProgramJennifer Mcgee - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionPamela Gruver - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Community Experts:Allison Estape - Citizen at Large Angie Cohan - NAUIBill Kelly - Florida Keys Commercial Fisherman's Association Carlos Estape - Citizen at LargeCory Walters - Mote Marine Lab, C-OCEANHannah Pragnell-Raasch - Project AwareJack Fishman - Project Aware Kayleigh Michaelides - National Marine Sanctuary FoundationLaura Palomino - REEF Environmental Education Foundation Luke D'Urso - Rainbow Reef Dive CenterPam Meyer - Florida Keys Dive Center

https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/sac/marine-debris/

Dive Operators & Dive Professionals play a KEY ROLE in removing marine debris

Photo credits: Jack Fishman, Rainbow Reef Dive Center

Dive Against Debris Efforts led by Rainbow Reef Dive Center

PermitsEngage

Community

Training

DisposalReporting

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is offering Blue Star Diving Operators matching funds to support cleanups in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

50% match required -- Matching funds can be in-kind contributions (ie: fuel, training, staff time, cleanup materials, etc)

Find out more: https://marinesanctuary.org

Request Blue Star Operator Matching Funds

Not a Blue Star Operator?

Begin your certification to qualify:

floridakeys.noaa.gov/onthewater/bluestar.html

Contact: bluestar.diving@noaa.gov

Next Steps

Photo Credit: Jack Fishman

Training for dive professionals working at dive shops who will apply for permits to conduct marine debris removals in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Key Largo Training: Thursday, April 19, 2018-- 6:30 pmFlorida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Office

95230 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037

Key West Training: Thursday, April 19, 2018-- 6:30 pmFlorida Keys Eco-Discovery Center35 E Quay Rd, Key West, FL 33040 Photo Credit: NOAA

To report an observation:

Go to www.mote.org/cocean & fill in the C-Ocean report, or

Contact Cory Walter, C-Ocean Project Coordinator,(305) 395-8730; email cwalter@mote.org.

Report Marine Debris

Lisa MongeliaSanctuary Advisory Council

Marine Debris Working Group Co-Chair305-431-6709

Elena RodriguezSanctuary Advisory Council

Marine Debris Working Group Co-Chair904-861-7472

http://floridakeys.noaa.gov

Marlies TumoloFlorida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

95230 Overseas HwyKey Largo, FL 33037

Phone: 305-434-9385Email: marlies.tumolo@noaa.gov

http://floridakeys.noaa.gov